Understanding Communication in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Communication Development in Children with Cerebral Palsy

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11058428

This project helps us understand how children with cerebral palsy learn to communicate over time, aiming to improve their speech and language skills.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11058428 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This long-term project follows children with cerebral palsy over many years to observe how their speech and language abilities develop. Researchers are creating models to predict how communication skills will progress, which can help guide decisions about their care. This approach allows us to see how each child progresses individually, even though their communication challenges can be very different. The goal is to find better ways to support children with cerebral palsy in expressing themselves and making improvements through their teenage years.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children with cerebral palsy, particularly those aged 3 to 15 years, who are experiencing challenges with speech and language development, would be ideal candidates for this type of research.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have cerebral palsy or are outside the age range of focus for communication development may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more effective communication therapies, helping children with cerebral palsy achieve their best possible speech and language outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on 15 years of prior work, having already developed validated models and growth curves for speech intelligibility and language comprehension in children with cerebral palsy.

Where this research is happening

MADISON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.